USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 2 > Part 4
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Dry weather had prevailed for a month previous to the en- campment, and the country for miles was covered with several inches of dust, which caused for the first day considerable annoy- ance. Fortunately a rain set in on Saturday night, continued over Sunday and well into Monday morning, when it ceased : shortly after the ground became dry and hard, and for the re- mainder of the tour the grounds were in fine shape and the weather of the best.
The only regiment that seemed to be seriously inconvenienced by the otherwise welcome rain was the First ; it was not over until
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1594
407
MOVEMENTS IN CAMP
the annual inspection and muster, personally made by General Greenland. the adjutant-general, assisted by Colonel MeKibbin, the inspector-general, and Major Sweeney, the brigade-inspector, ordered for Monday morning, August 13, had been fully completed. This inconvenience did not, however, impair results or disturb ratings.
Company commanders were admonished by a regimental order concurrent with the opening of the encampment " that as official inspection by superior headquarters may be made at any moment during the week." daily inspection of the men's quarters and kitchens must be made and proper attention given to the cleanliness and orderly arrangement of their contents. In its own forum and by its own decree the regiment had issued its perpetual injune- tion. " Paratus" stimulated to its lively remembrance by the order of the commanding officer, this inspection, the first thing Monday morning, found the regiment as " ready " as if it had been the last thing Saturday afternoon.
It was directed from division headquarters that " brigade manœuvres should assimilate as far as practicable to actual opera- tions of war," and from regimental headquarters that company commanders should give instruction in the extended order, selecting grounds within or without the limits of the camp, as best suited the purpose.
To be instrueted as litter-bearers, first aid to the injured, and other later developments incident to modern battle-field surgery details from the several companies reported each afternoon at four o'clock to Surgeon Walter D. Green at the hospital tent.
The regiment was assembled in front of division headquarters for inspection drill at 1.30 o'clock. on the afternoon of Wednesday. Angust 15, for what was known as the inspection drill in the presence of the State's inspecting officers.
Troop F, of the Seventh United States Cavalry, Major James F. Bell, and Light Battery C, Third United States Artillery, Captain J. M. Lancaster, through the courtesy of the Secretary of War, were also in camp, as has been noted, on the east side of the Taneytown Road. The Assistant Secretary of War was present during a portion of the encampment, as well as a large number of officers of the regular army and of the National Guard of other States. Captain Alexander Rodgers, Fourth United States Car- alry, was again detailed as inspecting officer; with him were Lieu-
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40S
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
tenant W. R. Abercrombie, Fourth United States Infantry, and Lieutenant J. M. Carson, Fifth United States Cavalry.
The Brigades were separately reviewed by the division com- mander, and on Thursday, August 16. at five o'clock in the after- noon, the entire division was reviewed by the governor and com- mander-in-chief. Troop F of the Seventh Cavalry and Battery C of the Third Artillery took part in the review, their presence adding to its impressiveness.
Of this review in his annual report General Snowden speaks as follows :
The division was formed in lines of brigade-, battalions in close column- of companies, the mounted troops in the left rear. Any other formation would have been impracticable, and with the one selected the parade ground was entirely covered. Without intimation that ha-te was required or desirable. the division. with the visiting regulars, was formed in twenty minutes from the time the leading regiment reached the ground.
It is a very superficial view to speak of the time being taken up by re- views, etc., as some officers are pleased to express themselves, for, in the first place, a division review is an inspection on a large scale, and in the next is a training in assembling and concentration without which the division could not act together, and tends in the highest degree to its mobility and value. No one who saw the division form, march past, and disperse could fail to be impressed with its power, solidity, and capacity to perform any work which it might be called upon to perform. It was also an excellent object- lesson, much needed in these days, to show the formidable body which the State has at its call to preserve the peace and enforce the law.
And this is Captain Rodgers's comment :
The division review was especially fine; there were over 8000 men in the review, and the column passed in fifty minutes; the steadiness of the men in ranks was as noticeable this year as it was last, and there was no looking about in ranks, raising of hands, or standing carelessly; the spirit of the men was shown by the evident desire of each individual to reflect credit upon his command.
The order for the breaking of the camp, with the dates and hours of departure for each regiment, was published from divis- ion headquarters on August 17; for the First Brigade the after- noon of August the 15th was fixed, the departures beginning with the First Regiment at one o'clock and with the others at the inter- vening hours, closing with the Gray Invincibles at five. It was left to the brigade quartermasters to designate the routes to be travelled by the troops of their brigades.
Of this movement and the camp generally, General Schall, in his annual report of the First Brigade, speaks as follows :
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1504
ANNUAL MESTER AND INSPECTION
The various commands reported promptly on the morning of August 11. The attendance during the encampment is deserving of especial mention. The aggregate strength of the brigade was 2629; the number present in camp. 2611: the percentage present, 99.31.
The interest manifested by all in the work of the National Guard was not only evidenced by the remarkable attendance, but by the unvarying exem- plary conduct. The week was one of great benefit in discipline, and added mmeh to the efficiency of the brigade. There was nothing to mar the success or the enjoyment of the camp, unless it was the provoking and seemingly altogether unnecessary delay in returning the commands to their homes at its close.
Captain Rodgers's exhaustive report, a monument to his effi- cieney, the best of testimony to the Guard's proficiency, concludes as follows :
The National Guard of Pennsylvania, which was in such a high state of efficiency last year. has made very evident progress within the last vear. The fact that a great majority of the law-abiding citizens of the State understand this usefulness and the necessity for keeping up its present efficiency, gives to all the members of the Guard encouragement and an in- entive to put forth their best efforts. As it stand- to-day, it is a guaranty of peace and order in the State.
There were present at the annual muster and inspection by the adjutant-general at the camp on August 13, 40 officers and 602 enlisted men : total, 642. " Every place was filled," no one was absent, of a consequence the " percentage of attendance " was 100. and with a " general average" of 95.19, and the like for the " figure of efficiency." the regiment, after something of an inter- val, went back to its old place in the lead. with the Thirteenth Regiment next following with a figure of efficiency of 94.99. There were four regiments in the State that attained the 100 for percentage of attendance-the First, Thirteenth, Fourth, and Fifteenth.
The synopsis of the report of the surgeon-general, Col. Louis W. Read, of the result of his official inspection by regiments " of cach company of the division, the quarters, company streets, en- vironments of the various camps, the food. the cooking, the kitchens. the dining-tents, garbage pits, and latrines," is this year (1894) published in the report of the adjutant-general, and the following is what he said of the First Regiment :
FIRST REGIMENT: Company E-Quarters very creditable. Very neat dining tent. Kitchen well kept. Rations of this company well kept. Neat and clean commissary tent. Company H-Kitchen all right. Attractive dining tent. Fine commissary tent. Company F-Quarters well kept. Neat
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
dining tent. Fine commissary tent. Company G-Kitchen and dining room first-class. Quarters in good condition. Streets well policed. Company I - Quarters in first-class shape. Neat dining tent. Kitchens and rations all right. Company C-Kitchen and rations all right. Quarters well kept. Street well policed. Company A-Quarters very well kept. Kitchen and dining tent very attractive. Company K-Attractive dining room. Quarters very creditable. Good kitchen. Company D-Quarters very creditable. At- tractive dining tent. The most neat and cleanly cooks so far seen. Every- thing first-class. Company B-Kitchen all right. Attractive dining tent. Quarters very well kept. Very commendable in every particular.
Between the breaking of the Gettysburg encampment and the close of the ritle practice season the regiment had made a gain of 20 by enlistment, and its then aggregate was 662, and with this aggregate it once more qualified as sharpshooter or marksmen every officer and man on its rolls-97 sharpshooters and 565 marksmen- a gain of 55 over its qualifications of 1893. The First Regiment. too, had the highest company average, 64, " in the comparative statement of qualification by companies." The other regiments with an average of 60 and upward were the Fourth, Tenth, and Eighth, 60; and the Fifteenth, 62.
Teams of the First, Second, Third, and Sixth regiments, State Fencibles, and City Troop met in a brigade match, known as the first-class regimental contest, held at the First Regiment range, 200, 500, and 600 yards, seven shots per man at each dis- tance, with the Potter trophy and four gold collar badges with ruby bull's-eyes as the prizes. The First Regiment's team was the winner. For the third time that regiment had won the Potter trophy. It was therefore out of all future contests; the third was to be the final winning, and carried with it absolute ownership. The total score was 322, with Private James Stewart. Company E, on the lead with $4, followed by Private Theodore F. Shonert. Company H, $3; First Sergeant H. L. Cooper, Company C, S2; and Sergeant-Major H. J. Mehard, staff. 73.
Companies from most of the organizations of the First Brigade reported for the company contests: teams of four men, five shots each, at 200 and 300 yards. The team of Company D, First Regiment, won the second prize-four silver collar badges-with a score of 131, against one of 160 made by the City Troop, the winner of the first. Corporal A. D. Porter, of Company D, First Regiment. made the highest individual score, 43, among the con- testants of the three winning teamns. Company A, of the Sixth. won the third prize.
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RIFLE PERFORMANCES
1501
The Brigade match was won by the First Brigade for the first time since 1SS6. The total score was 1029, with Sergeant-Major II. J. Mehard, of the First Regiment, leading with an individual score of 90. Of the others of the five members of the regiment on the team, Theo. F. Shonert, private Company H, was No. 2, with a score of S9, Corporal II. S. Lewars, of Company E, No. 3, also with 89; First Sergeant H. L. Cooper, Company C, was No. 5, with S7, and Private James Stewart, of Company E, was No. 11, with 82.
The Thirteenth Regiment won the regimental match with a score of 367, with the First Regiment fourth with a score of 349; as it did the skirmish match, with a score of 394, with the First Regiment third with a score of 385, tied with the Sixteenth, given second place. All the regiments in the State were in competition in each of these matches.
In the international matches shot at Sea Girt, New Jersey, the Pennsylvania team won the Hilton Trophy match (" considered the leading match ") with a score of 1088, with Sergeant-Major HI. J. Mehard in first place, with an individual score of 97, Private Theo. F. Shonert third with 94, and Sergeant H. L. Cooper sixth, with 91; and in the interstate match between the six competing teams-Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Maine, and Georgia-who were also con- testants in the Hilton match, Pennsylvania had second place with a total score of 1036; eight short of New Jersey's winning score of 1044. Sergeant-Major Mountjoy, of the Sixth Pennsyl- vania, had the highest individual score. 91. with Sergeant-Major II. J. Mehard, of the First, fourth, with SS, and Private Theo. F. Shonert seventh, with 86.
In Colonel Bowman's congratulatory order issued at the close of the rifle practice season of 1894 he refers to the " superb skill and heroic action of the members of the regimental team in the State matches at Mount Gretna," and makes special mention of the regimental representatives on the Pennsylvania team in the inter- state and Hilton Trophy matches " for their reliable and magnifi- cont shooting in these contests; " and of Sergeant-Major H. J. Mehard he says: " His increasing energy and great skill in rifle practice have blazed the way for the splendid achievements of the regiment, and special honor is due him for phenomenal scores in almost every contest."
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412
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1895
He makes special mention also " for having qualified for ten consecutive years as sharpshooters and marksmen, and thus being entitled through their meritorious records to the Veteran Corps Gold Badge, of the following officers and men : " Captain Milton W. Orme, Captain William S. AAllen, Captain Carroll B. Nichols. Captain George C. Von der Lindt, Regimental Sergeant-Major HT. J. Mehard, Battalion Sergeant-Major J. B. Manll, Corporal Rob- ert Baile, Corporal J. C. Harbour, and Private B. H. Markley." Lieutenant Charles F. Hess is also mentioned as entitled to credit for having qualified for ten years, but not conseentively, and Lieutenant Charles P. Hunt for having made a possible score in his qualification for 1894.
The military had its part in the ceremonies incident to the unveiling of the equestrian statue erected to the memory of Maj .- Gen. George B. MeClellan, on the northwest corner of the City Hall plaza, on Wednesday afternoon, October 24, 1894. The orders had gone out on the 10th. and pursuant to their direction the First Brigade. Brig .- Gen. John W. Schall in command. paraded at one o'clock on the afternoon of that day. The First Regiment was in its proper place in the column, with field and staff mounted and Colonel Bowman in command. The Grand Army of the Republic, out in goodly numbers, had its part in the procession, and was in a large measure the feature of the occasion. The demonstration was impressive and the public testified their sympathy with and appreciation of the ceremonies by the crowds surrounding the platform and by the spectators who lined the sidewalks along the route of the parade.
The four years of a new gubernatorial term began on the third Tuesday of January, 1895. Gen. Daniel H. Hastings advanced from a coloneley in the line, and by appointment of Governor Beaver serving through his term as adjutant-general of the State. had been himself elected governor at the November election. The National Guard in its participation in his inaugural ceremonies at Harrisburg, on Tuesday, January 15, had opportunity there- fore, while preserving a time-honored custom, not only to do honor to their new commander-in-chief, but also to remember him as well as aforetime their very efficient adjutant-general. The regiment was on duty, appearing in full-dress winter uniform, with Colonel Bowman in command. It left the regimental armory at 6.30
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413
THIRTY. FOURTH ANNIVERSARY
o'clock on the morning of January 15, entrained an hour later at the Pennsylvania station, made Harrisburg in a four hours run, participated in all the service it was called upon to ren- der in the inaugural ceremonies, and by midnight had completed its return journey and was back in the armory.
On their respective drill nights for the week beginning Fel- ruary 25 the companies of the regiment were ordered to appear in -ervice uniform for inspection in the school of the soldier, com- pany. extended order, guard duty. and condition of arms and clothing. The field officers, regimental and battalion adjutants. and sergeants-major were directed to be in attendance at each inspection. Later on the regular spring inspections followed.
The thirty-fourth anniversary celebration was given more specific significance by the presentation of a stand of colors by Major Edwin N. Benson and of the portraits of the ex-colonels by the friends and members of the Corps at the Veteran Corps ammal dinner at the Union League on the evening of the 19th of April, 1895.
The regimental order for the commemorative street parade. issued on the Bd. was supplemented on the 18th by newspaper notices of a column and upward of events that had given to the regimental career a conspienons patriotic prominence : followed on the 20th by pages descriptive of the parade of the regiment, the presentation speeches, and annual dinner of the Veteran .Corps. The headlines below, with the extracts, are illustrative of the general tenor of the preliminary announcement and what followed.
THE FIRST REGIMENT.
THE ORGANIZATION WILL CELEBRATE THE EVENT TO-MORROW WITH A PARADE- THE VETERAN CORPS DINNER AT THE UNION LEAGUE IN THE EVENING.
The 19th day of April thirty-four years ago was a memorable one in this city. On that day, among other notable events, the First Regiment was organi- ized, and since then it has been an active command, sending many men and officers to the front and participating in every call of active duty required by the State.
The history of the regiment is honorable and lustrous in patrioti-in.
The regiment soon became famous for its splendid drill and discipline. which was an earnest effort of the high degree of efficiency and usefulness which has marked the career of the First through the entire war, and in every campaign in the cause of the Commonwealth since the war, includ. ing the stemming of the tide of robbery and murder at the hands of Pitts- burgh's raging mob.
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IS95
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
The anniversary parade of the Regiment and Veteran Corps to-morrow will be a notable one, for which both organizations are making extensive prep- arations. The regimental band. bugle and drum corps, aggregating 70 performers, will accompany the Regiment, which expects to parade 600 men in full-dress uniform. The Veteran Corps will be headed by Jennings's Sixth Regiment Band, and hope to have 100 uniforms in the battalion. In the evening the Corps will hold its annual dinner at the Union League, at which will be present the prominent military officers of the city and State and a number of distinguished citizens.
The commands will leave the Armory. Broad and Callowhill Streets, at 4 p.Mr .. and pass over the following route: Broad Street to South. countermarch to Chestnut, to Fifth. to Market. to Broad, thence to Armory. The Union League and all the public buildings will be decorated, and the business men and residents are requested to display their flags and bunting. The business men on the north side of Market Street are especially requested to have wagons and drays move to the south side of the street as the line approaches.
Col. Wendell P. Bowman commanding, Lient .- Col. J. Lewis Good, Adjutant Robert G. Stinson, Quartermaster Frederick P. Koons, Surgeon Walter D. Green, Chaplain Rev. Samuel D. Mc- Connell, D.D., Surgeon Lawrence S. Smith, Assistant Surgeon W. G. Bryan, were of the regimental field and staff in attendance. The first battalion, composed of Companies E, F, G, H, and I. with a turnont of about 280 men, was in command of Major Albert L. Williams, with Second Lieutenant George B. Zane. Jr., as adju- tant. And the second battalion. Major Clarence T. Kensil in command, with Second Lieutenant George B. Wright, as adjutant, made up of Companies A. B. C. D. and K. turned out about 300. The Veteran Corps, six captains. staff officers, band and field music, in command of its commandant. Col. Theodore E. Wieder- sheim, paraded, numbering about 100.
The parade attracted unusual attention, indicated as well by spectators along the sidewalk as also by the larger gatherings at prominent points, notably in front of the Union League, and the vicinity of Eleventh and Chestnut Streets, where the cannon from the roof to the Union Republican Club sounded the greetings it was wont to tender all notable displays that passed that way.
The First Brigade accepted the invitation of the City Councils to participate in the military exercises incident to the city's com- memoration of the one hundred and nineteenth anniversary of American independence at Fairmount Park on the Fourth of July (1895). The assembly sounded at 9:30 A.M. and the regiment boarded its train on the Philadelphia and Reading at Broad and
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1.95
RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
Callowhill Streets at 9:45, and before eleven o'clock had joined the brigade at Belmont Mansion. General Schall was in com- mand of the brigade and Colonel Bowman of the regiment.
General Schall in his annual report made mention of the occasion as follows :
The grounds not being sulliciently large, the movements executed were necessarily confined to movement, in mass, changes of directions in line and column, and the formation of line without regular distances; 30,000 blank cartridges were expended in firing by battalion, company, and at will. The exercises were concluded by advancing in echelon formation of line and passing in review before His Honor, Mayor Warwick. The City Councils entertained the officers at Belmont Mansion and the men with an excellent lunch in individual boxes. The day proved very satisfactory, not only to the troops, but equally so to the public.
Walter D. Green had resigned as surgeon on February 15, 1895, and on July 16, 1895, Lawrence Savery Smith was ad- vanced to be his successor. The vacancy thereby created in the assistant surgeon's position was on the same day filled by the appointment of Joseph Price Tunis to the second place. Cap- tain Milton W. Orme, of Company C, retired by the expiration of his second term as captain, June 5, 1895. He first enlisted as a private, on April 3, 1850, and his service as corporal, sergeant, sergeant-major, second lieutenant, and captain had been continuous for upward of fifteen years. Captain Orme as a soldier was prompt, attentive, obedient; as an officer, of repute as a tactician, of special adaptability as an instructor, thoughtful of his every obligation. In his letter to the Board of Officers of June 10, 1895, announcing his retirement, he said :
I desire to express to you my sincere regret for the necessity which compels me to retire; and to assure you that it is not without the greatest reluctance that I sever my connection from the organization, for which I feel so much esteem and respect. I wish to extend my best wishes to the officers and for the future success of the Regiment: and may it always be "First " in every application of the word.
On June 27, 1895, First Lieutenant Louis F. Stees was ad- vanced to the captaincy of Company C. Second Lieutenant and Battalion Adjutant George B. Zane, Jr., had been elected first lieu- tenant of Company G on October 21, 1864, and on Jannary ?. 1995. Carlos R. Duque was taken from the ranks of Company E to fill the vacancy, which he did until October 7, 1895, when he resigned. The vacancy continued until March 12, 1896, when
416
1895
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
Augustus Drum Porter was made a battalion adjutant. George B. Wright resigned as second lieutenant and battalion adjutant December 2. 1-95, and Fred. Taylor Pusey, who had been ad- vanced to battalion sergeant-major December 7, 1893, was on February 28, 1896, appointed to succeed him. On July 8, 1595, C'aptain Theodore R. Lammot resigned the captainey of Company D. and his successor, First Lieutenant Artemias W. Deane, was elected July 19, 1895. Captain Carroll B. Nichols resigned his captaines of Company A October 15. 1595. He had been ten years in the service continuously in Company A. from March 2, 1885, through all the grades to the captainer. to which he was elected February 17, 1893. First Lieutenant Winfield L. Mar- gerum was elected in his stead February 28, 1896. First Lien- tenant Pearson S. Conrad resigned as regimental inspector of ritlo practice August 15, 1895. and on the 24th Captain Thomas Il. P. Todd was detailed as acting inspector.
" The regiment will take the field with this Brigade for the annual encampment July 20 to 27 inclusive. Every officer and man will arrange for his vacation and business engagements accordingly and must report for duty during the entire encamp- ment. No one will be excused from this tour of duty except ou surgeon's certificate of disability." Such is the text of Order No. 10, Headquarters of First Regiment Infantry, April 26, 1895.
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